Gasparilla Distance Classic Half Marathon & 8k

From the starting line on Bayshore Boulevard and Little Bayshore, the half marathon — presented by Publix — takes the field on a winding course, the first half of which follows a circuitous route around Davis Island, which lies just to the southwest of downtown. After running southward along South Davis Boulevard, which runs alongside the waters of the city’s Seddon Channel, the course then runs around the southern end of the island and back toward downtown across the Davis Islands Bridge for the second half of the race. Most of this stretch takes runners along beautiful Bayshore Boulevard, with the open expanse of the gorgeously scenic Tampa Bay over the runners’ shoulders in both directions. The course takes runners all the way out to the intersection with Gandy Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard, and then turns around and heads back along Bayshore to the finish line. Participants in the half marathon will be expected to keep a pace of 16 minutes per mile or better, as Bayshore Boulevard will close for race participants and re-open to traffic after 5 hours.

If participants haven’t completed the first five miles by 7:20 AM on Davis Islands — the scheduled starting time for the half is 6:00 AM – runners will be asked to move to the sidewalk until they exit Davis Islands and are back on Bayshore Boulevard.